The Challenge

Often times I think of this place like a bar. A military bar (not the stupid kind). Kind of like the old west, when a stranger walks in everyone stops drinking and states the "new guy" down... until he answers the challenge.

To date, I have heard three or four legends about the origin of the challenge coin. The first one I head was of a guy boasting about his accomplishments during WWII at a bar, some guys who were actually at the location of the boastful events took offense. They challenge him to prove he was part of said unit, at wich point he produced a coin (or something like that). Another story was during the Vietnam War, where soldiers and marines would carry rounds that (luckily) didn't kill them. It got out of hand, as with time the size and danger of the rounds increased; so unit commanders banned that and created the coin in it's place. Then I heard two similar stories, one about a rich Army Air Corps pilot (WWI) that had coins made to commemorate the time he and fellow pilots served together. A poor pilot kept his in a small leather pouch around his neck. He was shot down in German territory, managed to escape to a French patrol, and produced the coin to show who he was (all his identification, and uniform was stolen by ze Germans). Last story I heard was Filipino gorillas during WWII used silver coins with their unit insignia on the rear as a way to identify who was a friendly contact, and who was a Japanese spy.

As far as coins and medallions, I have very few. I never got into the trading aspect of coin collection. I believe I have a coin from my first submarine (might have chucked it into the ocean in a 4 year long fit of rage while attached), a special plankowner coin for my second submarine, a coin for OIF (or maybe it was Afghanistan... I'm not home right now to get pictures or verify), a NETC coin, and a SEAL Team 3 pin (gift I received from working with them).

What do you have? How did you earn it? What do you think of the trading of coins, versus the earning of said coins?

__________________--- UNDRPRVLGD Goggle Straps n stuff ---If this be treason, make the most of it.-Patrick HenryI'm a damn veteran, I've got more rights and privileges than you do.MQ2 rebuild kits, MP4 ram rebuilds, general 'cocker techingWill soon be making super slick mid/half block bolts

as far as earning vs trading, I feel that trading is lame, and earning is the only way you should get coins. no matter how you earn them(like mavLP got his). Some people buy coins(like my boot camp squadron/flight coin). but I havn't bought coins since then however kids go to Korea and they sell just about every coin you could ever want...

I have one coin that is meh, and one that is kinda ok, two knives, and one zippo.

One coin I got for my deployment from my AIT unit, before I left I saw the same coin being given to dumb soldiers who dives into snow drifts for the SGM's entertainment. Yup, trash.

Other is an AFSOC coin for helping them out with stuff when it wasn't really my job or mission focus.

One knife is just a crappy throwing knife kind of shindig with some stuff ingraved on it that everyone that rotates through the team I was working with downrange.

The other is a benchmade auto that has my name ingraved on it and the JSOC emblem.

Zippo is a SOCOM one given to be at a bar in Fayetteville by a retired SF MSGT. We were drinking together and playing pool in some hole in the wall bar, he said that was no place to spend the rest of our night, and told us to go to a biker bar called Legends. We get there and were given star treatment by the staff and most of the patrons.

Also a pretty humbling place, I guess it's frequented by lots of SOF types and an entire wall is covered with pictures of guys who never made it home over the past decade.

The one that I always have in my wallet was one I recieved from the Chairman of the Joints Chiefs. (At the time, it was Adm Mullen). I was out on the line, shooting some rivets in on the top of a F15 vert. I had noticed a six pack roaming the line with 4 stars on the bumper. When I came off the stand, he was standing there. We talked for a short time, he asked what I was doing and I showed him. When we got back down on the ground, he shook my hand and bam, had the coin.

I also have my Airman's Coin, which I keep in the case along with the AF Ball 60th Anniversary coin and POW/MIA Coin that I got for being an escort for a former WWII POW on POW/MIA day (who had an amazing story, btw). I've bought a couple of coins. One being one from Nellis, and Guam. Another being a 9/11 coin. That's all I have.

I was told that during the the Civil War Officers were given medals for courage on the battlefield, but enlisted members were not. Therefore, if the act on the battlefield came about from an enlisted member the Officer would take the "coin" from the medal and hand it to the enlisted member. If the Officer did not do this the enlisted members NCO's would sneak into the officers quarters and cut the "coin" off from the medal and give it to the junior member in the "hand shake" fashion that coins are given. That is what I was told by a E7.

Personally, the Custom and Courtesies of handing down coins has been watered down in my opinion. Every unit has them, you can buy them, and they are given for breathing, everyday task, and menial tasks by all. Earning a coin should be a honor.

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"If you don't go to the gym, you don't look good; if you don't tan, you're pale; and if you don't do laundry...you ain't got no clothes."-The Situation

I've seen a coin given out for, ahh ****, I forget the fancy wording, but essentially, excellent attendance.

As in, not going to sick call, or appointments and whatnot.

I **** you not, it was part of a ceremony and everything. Coins aren't dead, there are those that still mean something, but they are few and far between, as evidenced by people that have been for only a few short years and have amassed more than someone who has done 20.

I've seen a coin given out for, ahh ****, I forget the fancy wording, but essentially, excellent attendance.

As in, not going to sick call, or appointments and whatnot.

I **** you not, it was part of a ceremony and everything. Coins aren't dead, there are those that still mean something, but they are few and far between, as evidenced by people that have been for only a few short years and have amassed more than someone who has done 20.

Agreed. I have not received a coin that means **** to me...

__________________
"If you don't go to the gym, you don't look good; if you don't tan, you're pale; and if you don't do laundry...you ain't got no clothes."-The Situation

About the only ones that I have that mean anything to me are the ones I got from HMM-165

First one I got was just for being a badass

Second one was for busting my *** to get some work done before a sand storm hit in Bahrain, right before we pulled into port. Everyone was on libo and I was not even supposed to be up there. CO saw me and thought it was pretty cool I took the time to do that.

Honestly, I like the idea of it. But I have never seen anyone, or even heard of anyone do that except for that CO. Tradition that should still be around IMO. Little things like that go along way.

I agree with all the above posts. However, having been in only 5 years (yes I hae like 15 coins :/ ) most of my coins don't have tons of meaning, and some I got for just doing my job. The one's I recieved in Afghanistan have the most meaning to me compared to others but all of those coins to me have a story and the people I have had the priveledge of meeting in my short career. I agree coins should be a hard sought item however they are not in todays military, but I don't think getting coined should be frowned upon because chances are there aren't exactly a ton of people who have recieved the same one...